Aatrox/Trivia

General

Aatrox, Dr. Mundo, Mordekaiser, Vladimir, and Zac are the only champions that use their own health as a resource for abilities.
Aatrox glides when having high movement speed.
Massacre's activation can be faintly heard anywhere on the map, with the voices speaking while active being Aatrox's voice-over lines played in reverse.
- Enemies hit by Massacre will leave a blood trail between themselves and Aatrox that he will rapidly absorb (this is a remaining visual effect from PBE testing, where Aatrox would gain attack speed based on how many enemies had been hit by Massacre, that was recycled in V5.6)
Aatrox can still use emotes during Blood Well's revive.
Aatrox's backstory references well-known war deities: especially Greek Ares, Mesopotamian Nergal, Semitic Resheph, etc..
Aatrox is a word play on Latin atrox "fierce, savage, cruel" in turn from ater "dull black, dark", from root PIE *h₂eh₁ter- "fire"; all referencing the Darkin weapon's physical manifestation and demonic nature (punning on dark kin), various historical fire-based weapons, the scorched earth strategy, and his 'war as an artform' philosophy. Latin atrox gives rise to Anglo-French atrocity.
Aatrox might have made a cameo in Jax's unfinished splash art.

"Rage against the dying of the light" references Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas.
"I know what lurks in the hearts of man" references The Shadow by Walter B. Gibson ("Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows... ")
"Peace is the greatest lie of all" might be referencing the Code of the Sith from Star Wars ("Peace is a lie, there is only passion... ")
"Even those who have nothing can give their lives" might be referencing Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War.
"Pain is temporary, victory is forever" references "Pain is temporary, pride is forever".
Most of his taunts reference "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain".

This is him depicted as a hero by the people he fought with and rescued from impending defeat.
He shares this theme with Justicar Syndra [S|L].

He is right-handed in the artwork but left-handed in-game.
He might be referencing Gipsy Danger from Pacific Rim.
- Him being designated 'Prototype 13' might be referencing Evangelion 13 from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
- Rumble can be seen in the background (possibly his creator)
His recalling has him transform into a jet aircraft (references Thundercracker / Starscream from Transformers)
He shares this theme with Mecha Kha'Zix [S|L], Mecha Malphite [S|L], and Mecha Zero Sion [S|L].

Aatrox's sword is a living weapon known as the Darkin that takes hold of a host to serve as an avatar for spreading unhinged bloodlust in those he has fought with throughout Runeterran history (which he sees as an 'art form') the first war he participated in waged between the Protectorate and the Magelords atop the mountain Summoner's Rift is located.
- Tryndamere is suspected to have been chosen as Aatrox's new host, the attack on his village to serve as proof of his worth ("Tryndamere, my greatest creation") and Demonblade Tryndamere [S|L] as the potential end result of merging unhinged bloodlust and unhinged rage into a single vessel ("This one's rage will shape the world")